Process of extraction.



No. 880,821. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

61 A. L. CLARK.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTION.

APPLICATION FILED 213.27, 1907.

J. E. PORTER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

6. Vim

No. 880,821. PATENTED' MAR. 3

J. E. PORTER & A. L. CLARK.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTION.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 27. 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

Inventor:

@ Attyd.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EDWARD PORTER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND ARTHUR L. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THE JUST MINING AND EXTRACTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PROCESS EXTRACTION.

Patented March 3, 1908.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES E. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, New York, and ARTHUR L. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Extraction, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in processes of extraction, more particularly to the cyanid process for extracting precious metals from their ores. v

The process applies particularly to the treatment of low grade highly refractory sulphide ores which are unsuitable in their raw state for cyaniding or for profitable treatment commercially by any process.

The objects of the invention are to improve upon the efiiciency of the cyanid process, and to this end the invention consists of the process embodying the steps substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial sectional side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention on the line 1- -1 of Fig. 3; Flg. 2 is a partial sectional end elevation of the apparatus on the line 22'of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a to plan view of the a paratus; Fig. 4 is an en 'arged detail vertica sectional view taken through one of the cylinders of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the apparatus.

Referring to the drawin s, A represents a suitable tank, which may e constructed of Wood or metal as desired. In this instance the tank is constructed of Wood. Any suitableconstruction may be provided for the rial from which porous cvlinder's are made, Such materlal has the advantage of having minute, uniformly distributed pores through which air may be uniformly forced in-the form of minute bubbles uniformly distributed through liquid overlying it. And, being rigid it retains its shape, much facilitating such uniform distribution. Any suitable porous mineral septum may be used for a false bottom C, throu h which airand liquid may be forced or suc ed as desired.

As shown, the false-bottom C is constructed of slabs supported from the sides of the tank in any suitable manner, as by means of the angle irons D, and su ported at the meeting edges or joinin sur aces of the slabs by means of brackets carried upon the bottom F of the tank and secured thereon in any suitable manner. Preferably metal straps G vare arran ed above and below the. meeting edges of t 1e. lates forming the false bottom C, and bolts li pass through the straps and the brackets E.

Means are provided for forcing air into the s ace I between the bottom F and the false ottom C or for causing suction underneaththe false bottom C, in this instance pipes J bei provided branching from the main pipe said branch pipes'either extending through the bottom F or communicatin with apertures therein.

If. esired, hquid as water or a solution of any character may be forced through the pi es K and J.

eans are provided for raising and lowering the porous cylinders 0 out of and into the tank A. These cylinders are preferabl constructed as indicated in Fig. 4, in whic the porous cylinder 0 of suitable material, as, for instance, earthenware, is secured in a collar P which is screwed on to the head or casting Q, in turn carried on to the screw threaded end of the pipe R. As many of the porous cylinders and supporting devices are provided as desired, and preferably the cylinders are placedin staggered arrange ment as indicated in Fig. 3. Preferably the distances between centers of thecylinders are all substantially equal, thereby'obtaining a maximum effect in the tank. Also suitably screwed or otherwise secured to the head or casting Q of a cylinder is a pipe S extending substantially the full inside length of the cylinder and 0 on at the bottom near the inner bottom of t e cylinder. All of the cylinders are provided with the pipes S, which may be removed as desired and replaced by pipes of different length. The ead or casting Q of a cylinder is shown hollow, being provided with the passageway T, so that a continuous assage is formed by the pipes R, passages and the ipes S. The pipes R all connect with branc pipes U, leading to longitudinal main pipes V, from which air pressure or suct1on or water 'or solutions may be sup lied. The main pipes V communicate wit a cross pipe W, which in turn leads to the vacuum tank or air pressure receiver. The longitudmal pipes V are supported in suitable cradles X tions 6 above the cross beams Y, whereby the upper portions of the pipes may be removed from the lower portions or else the cylinders may be removed with portions of the pipe R.

We are notto be understood as limiting the invention to the construction of cylinder and supporting means shown and described for any suitable means have been disclosed for carrying out the objects of the invention.

As shown, vertical standards or uprights c are provided extending upwardly from the tank forming ways for guiding the cross beams Y and side beams Z of the frame Work and means are provided for raising and lowering the frame work, in this instance ropes or chains (1 being shown extending over pulleys 6. These ropes or chains may be provided with counterweights or connected to suitable engines or motors.

Preferably means are provided for heating the mass undergoing cyanidation or other treatment, and in this instance a steam coil is provided comprising the pipes f extend; ing back and forth over the area of the tank between the rows of cylinders O, and vertical pipes g and it lead u wardly from the horizontal pipes f to con not the steam to the coil and carry off the exhaust steam. Means are also provided for raising and lowering the steam pipes, in this instance chains or ropes 'i, being provided carried over the pulleys and attached to counterweights or ada ted to be operated by a motor or engine. Pre erably braces in are provided between the pipes R to, keep them from swaying. Any suitable braces may be provided for the remainder of the tank and ap aratus. Preferably there is a ate 0 for t e flushing out opening 19 at the ower portion of the tank.

In the operation 0-. the apparatus, let it be assumed that dry crushed ore is to be cyanided in our apparatus. To the tank A is first added a certain quantity of water, less than the total amount required for the operation and the steam coils f are lowered into the water, and steam is turned through the coils to commence heating. The agitation of the liquid is also commenced by turning on air pressure into the pipes K and J leading underneath the false bottom C. The

other words the air is atomized as it were by means of the mineral septum, and in passing into and through the body of liquid keeps the same in constant and gentle agitation throughout. The air of course emerges from the porous material in the form of excessively minute bubbles and the presence of a constant succession of these minute ascending bubbles in every portion of the mass keeps the fine particles of ore in suspension, permitting no packing or clogging and insuring that each individual particle shall be constantly in contact with a jacketin layer of thoroughly aerated liquid. The cy inders 0 having been lowered into position in the tank, the ore to be treated is charged into the tank by degrees. While the ore is being-charged in, the air pressurc is turned on in the pipes W, V, U and R,

thereby forcing air out through the porous cylinders 0 into the mass. The liquid is also agitated by the air passing through the porous false bottom and the porous cylinders, thereby keeping the finely divided material in a state of suspension. Next the desired quantity of alkaline earth oxid is added to the material in the tank sufficient to neutralize any acidity in the ores. If the ore is ground wet to alkalinity this is not necessary. Any acidity in the ore is not only detrimental to the cyanid solution but is further disadvantageous as rendering difficult the'uniform state of sus ension of the ore which we desire. At t e end of about one-half an hour, more or less, the material in the tank will be heated up to the desired degree, which would be about 190 degrees F and the acidity will be removed. The calculated amount of cyanidis then added to the mass and the solution brought up to the required volume and strength in the tank by the further addition of water, if required.- The agitation and heating are continued for about five hours, the initial strength of the solution being about onefourth per cent of potassium cyanid. The heat is maintained about 190 degrees F.

At the end of about five hours, the solution in the tank is strengthened to about six-tenths per cent of potassium cyanid by the addition of more cyanid, and the a itation and heating are continued from a out 10 to about 15 hours longer. Constant bulk may be maintained by the occasional addition of fresh-water. At certain stages of the operations alkaline earth oxid or peroxid is added for two reasons, first, to neutralize any carbonic acid that might be or have been formed, or that contained in the injected air; secondly, to aid in maintaining the desired suspension of the fine ore parentire mass undergoes filtration.

ticles. Preferably the alkaline earth oxid,

or its hydrate, is maintained in excess in the solution. If peroxid is usedthe additional effect is produced of supplying oxygen to the solution.

At the end of the agitation period the steam coils are raised from the bottom of the tank to a position above the contents of the same. Agitation is continued through the false bottom C while the air pressure is withdrawn from thecylinders O and suction applied through the piping, thereby filtering the solution through the porous cylinders 0. By maintaining the air pressure through the false bottom C while suction is applied to the interior of the cylinders O, the filtering operations are very greatly aided and made more efficient, because the agitation of the mass by the air rising from the false bottom causes the slimes to become thoroughly mixed with the solution and prevents them from stratifying, packing, or adhering tightly in muddy layers on the porous cylinders during filtration. This is one of the great advantages of the apparatus owing to which very much more rapid filtration and efficient results are produced than in any other apparatus hitherto devised. Furthermore the u Ward air currents through the mass keep t e liquid circulating or splashing over the entire sides of the cylinders so that instead of having air only sucked through the u per portions of the cylinders, thus losing 1; 1e vacuum effect the The mass is therefore forced up on the sides of the cylinders instead of leaving the up er portions of the cylinders bare. After tie agitation and suction have been continued for the desired time, more water is added to the tank and the suctionis continued with agitation through the bottom, thereby removing the valuable solutions which remain in the mass after the first filtration; The agitation stirs up the material in the bottom of the tank and forces it up around the sides of the cylinders.

Another way of treating thema'ss after the first filtration is to force water outwardly through the orous cylinders Q from the interior throug the piping, thereby cleaning the surfaces of the cylinders. When the desired amount of water has been forced into the tank the water pressure is removed, and the whole system of cylinders and iping is raised out of the tank, and any suita le form of mechanical agitator lowered in the mass in the tank and operated to agitate the mass mechanically thereby breaking up any lumps that may have remained. At the same time air is continued to be forced through the potous false bottom C to agitate the mass and aid in breaking up the articles therein. After the particles are all roken up and in suspension in the solution the mechanical agitator is removed and the porous cylinders are again lowered into the tank and suction applied to filter the solution as before, while air is being forced through a porous false bottom C. These operations are repeated as often as necessary to remove the valuable solutions. Finally the rcssure in the pipes K and J at the bottom of the tank is removed and suction applied to said pipes, thereby filtering the remaining solution through the porous false bottom C and thus recovering the last portions of the valuable solutions.

In Fig. 5, com ressed air is supplied from tank 1 to either tlie cylinders O in the tank A or beneath the false bottom C, or to both at the same time. 2 represents a vacuum tank by means of which a vacuum may be drawn from the cylinders 0 through the receiver 3 or from the bottom C through the receiver 4, or from both at once. Water or solution maybe supplied to the cylinders O or to the bottom C, or to both, from the tank 5. Suit able piping and valves are provided for carrying out these ob'ects. The air pressure tank 1 is connects by pi e 6 with ipe 7, which in turn connects wit the su p y pipe W and with the'receiver 3. Air tan 1 is also connected by pipe'8 with pipe 9 which leads to receiver 10, and pipe 11 connects pipe 8 with Water tank 5-. Said water tank is also connected by pipe 12 with pipe W. The

vacuum tank 2 is connected by pipes 13 and 5 ence of cyanid solution while at the same time forcing air throu h porous-walled bodies to form very minute ii the lower portion of said mass, thereby aerating and agitating the mass, and then discontinuing the heating and applying sucubbles in contact with tion to a orous-walled body to filter off the cyanid so ution.

2. The recess of extracting precious metals from t eir ores by cyaniding which consists in heating a mass of such ore in the presence of cyanid solution while .at the same time forcin air through a plurality of porous-walled orlies to form very minute bubbles in contact with the lower portion of said mass at difierent levels, thereby aerating and agitating the mass, and then discontinuing heating and ap lying suction to a higherlying porous wa led body to filter off the cyanid solution while at the same time continuing to force air through a lower-lying porous-walled body.

3. The 'rocess of extracting precious metals from t eir ores by cyaniding which consists in heating a mass of such ore in the pres ence of cyanid solution while at the same .cyanid solution, distri time forcing air through a porous-walled body to form very minute bubbles in contact with the lower portion of said mass, continuing the introduction of air and maintaining the temperature of the mass at about 190 degrees Fahrenheit until the extraction of precious metals is finished, and then discontinuing the heating and applying suction to the porous-walled bodyto filter off the cyanid solution.

4. The rocess of extracting precious metals from t ieir ores by cyaniding which consists in heating a mass of such ore in the presence of cyanid solution while at the same time forcin air through a plurality of porous-walled Iiodies to form very minute bubbles in contact with the lower portion of said mass at different levels, thereby agitating and aerating the mass, continuing the introduction of air and maintaining the temperature of the mass at about 190 degrees Fahrenheit until the extraction of the precious metals is finished, and then discontinuing heating and applying suction to a higher-.

lying porous-walled body to filter off the cyanid solution while at the same time continuing to force air through a lower-lying porous-walled body. I

5I'In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in sus ending such ore in a cyanid solution and distributing minute air bubbles substantially uniformly throughout the mass of ore and liquid,

6. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a heated cyanid solution and distributing minute air bubbles substantially uniformly throu hout the mass of ore and liquid.

7. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in -a cyanid solution maintained at a temperature of about 190 degrees Fahrenheit during the extraction and during such extraction distributin minute air bubbles substantially uniform y throughout the mass of ore and liquid.

8. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a uting minute air bubbles substantially uniformly throughout the mass of ore and liquid during the extraction and after extraction filtering ofi the liquid while still continuing the introduction of minute air bubbles.

9. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores, by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a cyanid solution contained in a tank provided with heating elements at its base and with a bottom-of porous material, and durin extraction maintaining suspension of suc ore by the conjoint influence of convection currents from such heating elements and air forced through such porous bottom to form very minute bubbles. v

10. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a cyanid solution contained in a tank provided with heating elements at its base and with a plurality of porous-walled elements at and near said base, durin extraction maintainin suspension of suc i ore by the conjoint in uence of convection currents from such heating elements and air forced through such orous-walled elements to form very minute ubbles and after extraction filtering ofi the cyanid solution by suction applied to such a porous -walled element while maintaining sus ension by airforced through another suc porous-walled element.

11. In the extraction 'of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a cyanid solution maintained in an alkaline condition. by an alkaline earth duri extraction and distributing minute air bub les substantially uniformly throughout the mass of ore and liquid during extraction,

12. In the extraction of precious metals from their ores by 'cyaniding, the process which consists in suspending such ore in a heated cyanid solution maintained in analkaline condition by an alkaline earth during extraction and distributing minute air bubbles substantially uniformly throughout the mass of ore and liquid during extraction.

' 13. Inthe extraction of precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, the process 'which consists in suspending such ore in a cyanid solution maintained at a temperature -of about 190 degrees Fahrenheit during extraction and also maintained in an alkaline condition by an alkaline earth, and distributing minute air bubbles substantially uniformly throughout the mass of ore and liquid during extraction.

14. The process substantially as herein described of extracting precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, which consists in filling a tank having a porous bottom and containing cylinders having porous walls with less water than the total amount realso through the porous cylinders to form very minute bubbles, continuing the heating and forcing of air into the mass for about five hours, then strengthening the cyanid solution in the tank, and continuing the forcing of air into the mass and heating from about ten to about fifteen hours longer, then discontinuing the heating and applying suction to the porous cylinders, thereby filtering the solution through said cylinders.

15. The process substantially as herein described of extracting precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, which consists in filling a tank having a porous bottom and containing cylinders having porous Walls with less water than the total amount required for the operations, heating said water to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit, charging in the pulverized ore, adding a solution ofcyanid to the mixture, forcing air into the mass through the porous bottom of the tank and also through the orous cylinders to form very minute bubb es, continuing the heating and forcing of air into the mass for about five hours, then strengthening the cyanid solution in the tank, and continuing the forcing of air into the mass and heating from about ten to about fifteen hours longer, then discontinuing the heating and applyin suction to the porous cylinders, thereby filtering the solution through said cylinders, while continuing the forcin of air through the porous bottom of the tan lr.

16. The process substantially as herein described of extracting precious metals from their ores by cyaniding, which consists in filling a tank having a porous bottom and containing cylinders having porous Walls with less water than the total amount required for the operations, heating said water to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit, charging in the pulverized ore, adding the desired quantity of alkaline earth oxid to the mass, adding a solution of cyanid to the mass,forcing air into the mass through the porous bottom and through the porous cylinders to form very minute air bubbles, continuing the air pressure and heating for about five hours, then strengthening the cyanid solution in the tank, and continuing the air pressure and heating from about ten to about fifteen hours longer, discontinuing the heating and applying suction to the porous cylinders, thereby filtering the solution through said cylinders.

17. The process substantially as herein described of extracting precious metals from their oresby cyaniding, which consists in heating the pulverized ore and cyanid solution to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit in a tank having a porous bottom and provided with porous filter cylinders in the tank, While at the same time forcing air upwardly through the porous bottom into the mass and through the porous cylinders to form very minute air bubbles in the mass, thereby agitating and aerating the mass, continuing such treatment for about five hours, then strengthening the cyanid solution, and continuing the agitation and heating from about ten to about fifteen hours longer, then applying suction to the porous cylinders and filtering" the solution therethrough'.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES EDWARD PORTER. ARTHUR L. CLARK.

Witnesses for Porter:

F. E. ENGELHARD, STUART C. HEMINGWAY.

Witnesses for Clark:

FRANK C. EBB, FREDERIO W. ERB. 

